Monday, April 20, 2015

Metal Commodities and Recycling Report, Wilson Metal Recycling, 404 Maury St S, Wilson, NC, 27893, 252-243-3586

Wilson Metal Recycling Metal Commodities and Recycling Report

April 20th, 2015
404 Maury St S
Wilson, NC, 27893
252-243-3586


This is the Commodities and Recycling Report, brought to you by BENLEE the industry leader in Roll Off Trailers and Open Top Scrap Trailers, as well as Raleigh and Goldsboro Metal Recycling, the leaders in North Carolina for Scrap Metal, Cardboard, Electronics and Junk Cars. 

Today is Monday, April 20th, 2015.  My name is Greg Brown, President and CEO of the companies.

Last week was a very tough week in the recycling business, but there are signs of relief.  Two large publically traded companies released that their outside accountants have issued what is called a “Going Concern” statement.  This was due to both companies were in violation of their banking agreements, as of December 31, 2014.  As you may remember, a few weeks ago, Steel Dynamics released that their OmniSource division would lose money in Q1 and Nucor released that their recycling division would have declining profits.  Put together, this means that the companies that were in trouble at the end of 2014, were probably in worse trouble as the quarter ended a few weeks ago.

wilson metal recycling
AMM - Scrap Metal Prices Graph


As for scrap steel prices, they were up a couple of dollars last week based on small increases in exports.  Also on the positive side, Clarkson Capital released buy ratings on Nucor Steel, Arcelor Mittal and AK Steel, due to their exposure to the U.S. automotive and construction industry.  They also wrote as we have mentioned, that the U.S. steel companies may file anti-dumping charges by foreign steel companies, to try and reduce the flood of imports.

wilson metal recycling
AMM - Steel Production Graph


While steel production bumped up a bit last week, it remains near its multi-year lows, again due to the flood of imports and some weak end markets like Oil and Gas drilling.

wilson metal recycling
Baker Hughes - US Oil Rig Count


The oil rig count hit yet another new multi-year low last week and is now back to where it was in November of 2010.  The combined oil and gas rig count is now at the lowest level since July 2009.  With the oil rig count at 734 rigs, that is now an enormous 55% drop from the recent October 2014 high of 1,609 rigs.

wilson metal recycling
CME Group - Copper Prices Graph


Copper had a volatile week, having declined a bit and as of last night, Sunday, was $2.82, but is about 2.74 this morning. A couple of weeks ago, copper went to $2.89 for a number of hours, but excluding that, copper hit a new one month high last night.

wilson metal recycling
Kitco - Aluminum Prices Graph
  

Aluminum had a great week and is now at a multi month high.  We remain feeling good about aluminum pricing as it takes even higher market share in cars and trucks and as the commercial jet market continues to hit new production records.

wilson metal recycling
Kitco - Lead Prices Graph
  

Lead also had a great week and is near a 6 month high, which is good news for those that recycle lead and car batteries.

As for more positive news, this morning, the Chinese central bank made some moves to stimulate their economy, which will help all as well.

In summary, many commodities have stabilized from their free fall and some are hitting multi month highs.  Major damage has been done to the recycling industry, but it looks like the worst may be over.  Importantly, no one it talking like there will be a major recovery like we saw in 2009 and 2010.  Prices and profits are due to stay low.

For those of you that are still on the fence and thinking of coming to the ISRI meeting in Vancouver this week, it will be a great meeting to talk to suppliers, see friends and attend the Metal and Money theft from scrap yards session that I will be speaking at.

There were no changes to our copper prices in North Carolina last week, with our Raleigh prices of #1 copper being purchased for $2.36 per pound.  Prepared Steel is still being purchased for $6.25 per hundred pounds.
With that we hope all have a Safe and Profitable week.   Tune in next week for the Commodity and Recycling Report.